HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

MONDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2018

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPEECH
The Secretary-General will address the opening session of the High-Level Week tomorrow. In his address to world leaders, the Secretary-General will note his concerns about the breakdown of trust around the world and underscore the need to reform, renew and reinvigorate multilateralism at a time when it has never been needed more.  
He will also sound the alarm on climate change. He is to emphasize the need to harness the benefits of new technologies for all while safeguarding against the dangers, from malicious acts in cyberspace to the weaponization of artificial intelligence.  He will also appeal to world leaders for greater solidarity in advancing peace, human rights and sustainable development.

SECRETARY-GENERAL
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the High-level Event on Counter-Narcotics hosted by the United States. He stressed that drugs and addiction are not abstract issues, but they are tangible and personal to many of us. To tackle the issue of narcotics, the Secretary-General said there needs to be action in two areas: cracking down on trafficking and on those who profit from human misery, as well as making sure those who need treatment have access to it. Mr. Guterres added that national priorities may differ, but the global community shares a common goal: to protect the health, security and well-being. “It is our duty to act – and act now,” he said.
This morning, the Secretary-General also attended the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, which honoured the centenary of the birth of the South African leader. 
The Secretary-General said Nelson Mandela embodied the highest values of the UN. He devoted his life to serving his community – as a lawyer, prisoner of conscience, peacemaker, President and respected elder.
He added that with human rights under growing pressure around the world, we now are well-served by reflecting on Madiba’s example. “We need to face the forces that threaten us with the wisdom, courage and fortitude that Nelson Mandela embodied,” he said. 
And right now, the Secretary-General is at the High-level Event on Youth2030 to launch the Youth Strategy and the Generation Unlimited Partnership. He will also outline the UN’s efforts to work with young people in understanding their needs, help put their ideas into action, and ensure their views inform the UN’s processes.
Later today he will be at the Global Compact Private Sector Forum and also meet with his High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation this afternoon.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL 
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed attended the CEO Roundtable on “Closing the Inequality Gap: Human Rights as a Driver for Successful Business”, where she told business leaders that they have a direct interest in engaging with people and communities who are marginalized, and in eliminating the racism and xenophobia that feed exclusion.
At 1:00 p.m., she will speak at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s event on “Emerging Challenges and Shifting Paradigms.” And following that event, she will have a special discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals with the International Monetary Fund. This evening she will also attend the High-level Event on Education Finance. 

SECRETARY-GENERAL​ (SUNDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2018)
On Sunday, the Secretary-General spoke at an event to address severe food insecurity. He also had a number of bilateral meetings yesterday – we put out those readouts – and also met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Afterwards, he told reporters that he and Mr. Juncker both believe in the need for multilateralism and for a rules-based international order, and agreed on climate action as an essential global priority. 
The Secretary-General also took part in a trilateral meeting with the African Union and the European Union. Speaking to reporters with Head of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, he underlined the importance of the partnership between the AU and the United Nations. And we have a joint statement agreed upon by the AU, the UN and the European Union that was issued a short while ago.

DRC 
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that some 40,000 people have been displaced following violent clashes between the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mai Mai Yakutumba militia on 15 September in the territories of Fizi, in South Kivu Province, and Kabambare, in Maniema Province.
OCHA says insecurity has also led to the temporary suspension of several humanitarian projects in some areas, directly or indirectly affecting at least 118,000 people. 
While there are currently a number of violence hotspots across the DRC, the situation in South Kivu is of particular concern for humanitarian actors.

LIBYA
UNICEF is calling for all parties to the conflict in Libya to protect children at all times following an escalation of violence in the capital, Tripoli. There is a statement out on this topic.

MALDIVES 
On the Maldives, the UN takes note of the peaceful and orderly conduct of the presidential elections in the Maldives that took place yesterday. The UN congratulates the Maldivian people for turning out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote, and commends the authorities and political leaders for a smooth polling day and for the commitment to a democratic Maldives.